Running is often viewed upon as an activity that can be damaging to you body.
But is that true, especially considering that it improves your cardiovascular fitness?
Runners talk about cardiovascular benefits and the freedom that running can bring. Non-runners will talk about valid points such as joint problems and repeated muscle injuries.
Who is right and who is wrong? Is there a middle ground?
Let’s view each point of disagreement.
Running causes joint problems and impact injuries.
Running strengthens your joints and bones, but repetitive pounding on your joints, especially your knees can be damaging. So as long as you wear quality cushioned shoes, run off-road regularly, and don’t participate in overly long distance mileages, you shouldn’t experience injury.
Running is boring.
Running can be boring because it’s a repetitive exercise, with most people running the same routes each day. But running off-road and exploring the great outdoors brings a particular freedom. So you will need to vary your routes and distances, as well as running with friends if possible.
Running causes imbalances in the body.
Many runners do not work their upper body, but instead spend al their time running. A proper running regimen needs to include times for working the upper body, so the body maintains a proper postural balance.
Runners are inflexible and frequently get muscle injuries.
When runners follow standard training procedures that include regular flexibility training, muscle injuries will be minimized. This is particularly true for older runners.
The verdict on whether running is good for you.
Running is like any other exercise activity. As long as sensible precautions are taken to ensure safety in training, a runner should enjoy years of running with little to no injuries. Just remember to keep your training activity in balance – as with all other areas of your life.